The American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA) estimates that approximately 1 in 5 of us suffer from one or more of the 140+ diseases classified as autoimmune in nature. That’s approximately double the number of people who suffer from heart disease, and four times the number of people affected by cancer. And yet, having an autoimmune disease can be tremendously isolating. We feel like we are alone, that no one can understand what we’re going through, and that we must soldier on by ourselves.
Enter the autoimmune protocol (AIP). No other diet can boast even close to the enormous numbers of anecdotal success stories out there of people mitigating and even reversing their diseases. It’s beginning to be validated in the scientific literature, and more and more doctor’s offices are recommending The Paleo Approach to their autoimmune patients. This approach has tremendous therapeutic potential; but here’s the thing: it’s hard to eat so differently from our peers. Any specialty diet or food allergy/sensitivity can be isolating in itself. And, for some of us, following the AIP can create just as much of a sense of solitude at the diseases that forced us down this path.
And social isolation isn’t good for us. In fact, scientific research confirms that a feeling of connection is just as important for our health as not smoking, being a healthy weight, and being active. Social isolation and loneliness correspond with increased risk of morbidity and mortality; and conversely, a strong social support network corresponds with decreased risk of disease and increased longevity. The mechanisms behind this are discussed in detail in this post.
Having a strong social network provides a huge range of benefits. In terms of physiologic responses, the feeling of connection causes changes in hormones that directly improve our health, including regulating both cortisol and oxytocin (see this post). There’s practical benefits as well: it can make all the difference to have someone you can count on to watch your kids, pick something up at the grocery store for you, or talk to when you’ve had a bad day. Research shows that having a close inner circle of 8 to 10 people that you can depend on and confide in is optimal. Just knowing that you have people who are there for you, just feeling connected to even a small handful of people whom you trust and love, can make a huge difference in your ability to cope with, and heal from, chronic disease.
It’s also crazy helpful to know someone going through something similar, whether dealing with the same autoimmune disease or working hard to implement similar diet and lifestyle priorities. Someone who “gets it”, to bounce ideas off of, to share in successes, to commiserate with set-backs, to understand our enthusiasm, and know how we feel before we say a word–whether or not this person (or persons) is local to us, part of our inner circle, or whether we’ve ever even met in person is irrelevant. Nothing can replace this kind of kinship in a health journey such as those of us with autoimmune disease face.
So, how do you find this community? Where do you meet those people walking a similar road to yours, with whom you can share this journey? Where do you find experts to guide you, answer your questions, and places where you know you’re not the only one? I’ve compiled my favorite resources for you, representing a range of ways to connect, meet, interact, and get informed.
Facebook Support Groups
Facebook groups are a great way to meet people in a virtual and safe space, i.e., from the comfort of our homes without bothering to put on makeup! Facebook groups are also great communities of people, many of whom are likely to share some similarities with each individual’s situation, have favorite resources to share, and/or be willing to answer questions or simply show moral support. Here are active groups, some of which center around the autoimmune protocol, that are all great communities:
- The Paleo Approach Community
- AIP Support Group on Facebook
- Autoimmune Paleo Recipe Group on Facebook
- Asian Paleo Autoimmune Protocol
- Autoimmune Arthritis Alternatives
- Autoimmune Moms
Instagram Accounts
Instagram may seem like a strange place to find community, but in fact, simply reading the comments on posts (and maybe contributing to them too) can be an amazing source of great people to connect with! Not to mention, all of these people are knowledgeable AIP-ers too!
Podcasts
Listening to a podcast can both provide answers to burning questions, but also provide an inexplicably intense experience of “I’m not alone!”. Here are my favorites:
- The Paleo View
- Phoenix Helix Podcast
- Autoimmune Adventures
- Invisible Warrior Radio – Chronic Illness Support
Youtube Accounts
These video podcasts are amazing resources, and the feeling of connection can be even more intense when you can see someone’s face!
One-on-One Help
Sometimes friends, the internet, and the best books are still not enough to successfully troubleshoot the autoimmune protocol. Here are great places to find an expert to work with one-on-one to give you the best chance of success on your health journey. All of these experts can work with you long distance too!
- The Paleo Mom Consulting
- The Invisible Warrior Inner Circle
- A True Transformation
- Holistic Wellness Health Coaching
- 1:1 & Family AIP Coaching
- Joanna Frankham Coaching
Books
Whether you need a science-based guidebook or a cookbook teeming with ridiculously delicious recipes, this is the current collection of AIP (or close to AIP) books out there:
Organizations
Not only can organizations provide resources unavailable most other places, they can also be great sources of information, referrals, support groups, and a place to meet peers.
AIP-Approved Bloggers
The following bloggers all follow the version of the autoimmune protocol presented in The Paleo Approach, and are all excellent resources for inspiration, commiseration, practical tips, expert advice, recipes, meal plans and more!
Meet-up Groups:
Ready to actually go meet people in person? There’s an astounding collection of AIP meet-up groups across the globe!!! Special thank you to Mickey Trescott and Angie Alt of autoimmune-paleo.com for compiling this list and giving me permission to share it! Not only do these gals have an amazing website, but they continuously post updates to this list, so make sure to check out their site regularly!
Take-Home Message
I hope this collection of resources will help you on your health journey. As one final sentiment, I encourage you to reach out, whether it’s commenting on a thread in a Facebook group, or joining a local meet-up group. Connection is worth stepping outside your comfort zone to achieve. And, if you’re someone who has found your community and support, I encourage you to look around you to see who else you know could use a boost, and reach out to them.
